DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of
the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of
the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
CONFERENCE COMMI TTEE REPORT DIGEST
House Bill No. 115 by Representative James
Keyword and oneliner of the instrument as it left the House
SCHOOLS/DISTRICTS: Provides for parent petitions relative to the transfer of certain schools
from the Recovery School District back to the local school system
Report adopts Senate amendments to:
1. Require signatures of parents of at least a majority of the students who have been enrolled
in the school for at least two years instead of signatures of parents of students attending
the school.
2. Make technical changes.
Report amends the bill to:
1. Require that the rules and regulations to be developed and adopted by the State Board of
Elementary and Secondary Education for implementation of the parent petition process be
developed and adopted by Oct. 1, 2013.
Digest of the bill as proposed by the Conference Committee
Present law (R.S. 17:10.5) provides for the transfer to the Recovery School District (RSD),
subject to approval by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), of
schools that have been labeled academically unacceptable for four consecutive years or failed
schools for which the local school board has failed to present or implement an acceptable
reconstitution plan under the school accountability program. Provides that the RSD shall retain
jurisdiction of any school transferred to it for not less than five school years. Requires the RSD to
report to BESE at least nine months prior to the expiration of the transfer period as to whether the
school should continue in the RSD under certain conditions, close, or be returned to the
transferring school system. Provides that the RSD shall retain the school for an additional
five-year period upon BESE approval unless a lesser time is adopted by BESE.
Proposed law retains present law and adds that parents of students attending a school that is directly operated by the RSD and that has not been identified for conversion to a charter school
pursuant to a charter contract between BESE and a non-profit charter organization and had a
letter grade of "D" or "F" for five consecutive years while under the jurisdiction of the RSD may
submit a petition to BESE requesting that the school be returned to the local school system from
which it was transferred. Requires approval of BESE and the respective local school board for
such transfer to occur. Requires signatures of parents representing at least a majority of the
students who have been enrolled in the school for at least two years. Requires BESE to adopt
rules and regulations by Oct. 1, 2013, for implementation of the petition process, including a
petition format and submission process, signature validation procedures, timelines, and student
transfer procedures. Prohibits the use of local school and school district resources to support or
oppose any effort by parents to gather signatures or sign petitions.
(Adds R.S. 17:10.5(G))